A Mermaid's Tale.
Warning: Rated MA for violence, swearing and plenty of sexual content.
Disclaimer: do not own, if I did the story would go with how it ORIGINALLY was. With Zutara.
Note: Aang is just a air-bender, there is no war, people are at peace, even working together... for now...
'This' is Katara's thoughts
'This' is Zuko's thoughts
Toph, you are ever so mocking and crude.
Katara's mind had finally righted itself and she took a moment to look around. Everyone was staring at her. Katara felt her tan cheeks flush with embarrassment as she clung tighter to the cape, glad that it was big enough to fold over her twice. Her eyes nervously darted from one person to the other during the pin-drop silence, until they landed on Zuko. He was looking at her with a worried, and slightly aroused, expression. 'His face' she gaped as her eyes took in the horrible scar marring half his face. ''NO! Don't show him weakness, no pity for the enemy. Remember that Katara.' Her shocked expression was wiped off and she sneered at him, causing him to blink in surprise. Before Katara could open her mouth to speak however, a girl's voice was heard.
"So like, anyone care to tell me why you people went silent all of a sudden? It's pissing me off." The angry words were coming from non other than the earth regal, lady Toph.
"Oh, that's because Prince Zuko covered a girl with his cape for a reason no one knows." Haru explained, smiling at his Lady, though she couldn't see it. Everyone's eyes had transferred to Toph and her guard, leaving Katara thankful...if she weren't so mortified.
"Huh, maybe she was dressed like a stripper or something." Everyone's mouth had dropped open at this, and their heads snapped to Katara, who had now turned redder than the tomato, eyes off the scarred prince and wra[[ed the cape even closer to her body. It smelled like him, kind of like cinders and ash. It lit a small fire in her belly and Katara had to hold herself back from burrying her nose in the fabric.
'He's the enemy. The ENEMY.'
"Cause sparky's heart-beat picked up to a stamped just before he walked in the chick's direction... it was still like that 'cept for a few seconds ago." Faces showed a look of confusion at the name 'Sparky', but soon began to put it together. They turned to Zuko, who was looking away from everyone and glaring at the boat, blush staining his face. Everyone now had their eyes back on Toph, except they were looking in confusion and wonder. "Seems like sparky here is crushing on the new girl." Everyone was in awe...except one particular fire-nation Lady, who's jet eyes were glaring holes into the water-princess.
"How did you-I do not!" Zuko scowled as embarrassment filled him. Katara looked back to him, a snide smirk curling her lips.
"Don't start smirking yet sugar queen, I know you're heart was having a field day a few seconds ago." Katara blushed and Zuko chanced a glance her way, brow raised. She just sneered at him. He raised the other brow.
'What did I do?'
"Let me explain. Lady Toph, though she is a powerful earth-bender, you may have noticed she is also blind. But because of this, she has trained her other senses and now can 'see' people using her bending. She can pick up heart rates and movement." Haru explained, ruffling her hair lightly. She scowled and batted his hands away.
"Yeah, so you better not lie, 'cause I'll expose you in a heartbeat." she had a cheeky smile and everyone groaned at the lame pun, though they looked slightly terrified of her. "Hmm, tough crowd." she muttered. Even Haru had to roll his eyes.
"Yeah uh, this is all great and all, but would someone please mind getting me some clothes too?" Another voice was heard, but it was a male's. They turned to see a brunette peaking from behind a post. Zuko shot a look at Azula, who simply scowled in return. He glared at her before she let out a 'tsk' and stalked towards the man.
"Here." She threw her cape to him and crossed her arms. Her cheeks tinged a little pink when she caught sight of his body for a moment before he wrapped the cape around himself. His mouth opened to say thank you but she cut him off. "Save it. You can keep that too, I don't want it anymore." Azula shot him a pants shitting glare before huffing her way back to her friends.
"If you don't mind me asking... why are there naked people appearing on the boat, not that I have any complaints about the cutie over there." Ty Lee smiled and waved at Sokka, who blushed a little and looked away. Azula glared at them before crossing her arms and pinning her glare on the post Sokka was hiding behind before. He had now taken refuge next to his sister, both looking uncomfortable to be under scrutiny when they were so...vulnerable. "Oh! Here comes another one. Another hunk at that." A man was getting on the ship, lifting himself up only to be stopped by a pretty girl's face. "You might not want to climb any further up, I don't think the others will be as happy as me to see what you have on offer." she flirted, looking down at the man, trying to snag a peak. However, the newcomer caught on fast and fell back into the water. Ty Lee just pouted.
"Listen Harpy." Ty Lee felt the words targeting her and turned to see an annoyed Toph, crossing her arms. "Do something useful and stop perving at the guys, we need to get them all some cloths." Toph ordered. Instantly one of the Dai Li (crew men) were by her side. "Do we have any left? The guy is taller than Haru and the chick is taller than me judging by the weight proportions." Toph complained, sensing their weight patterns.
"No miss, we do not." She nodded at the man and he disappeared.
"Let me take care of it." Zuko told her. She nodded.
"Alright Sparky, the stage is all your's." Toph rolled her eyes and stalked back to Haru, who just smiled at her.
"Um... please don't call me that." Zuko asked her.
"Too late. It's stuck now." She shrugged, Zuko just scowled. He turned to the two mer-people and almost stepped back at the looks they gave him.
"We won't wear anything from the fire nation." The girl spat. The boy just kept glaring. Everyone was now as dumb-founded as Zuko. "So stop being kind. It's not in your nature." she sneered.
Zuko was about to retort when Azula put a hand on his chest. "Now Zuzu, don't get mad at them." He frowned again. What was it with women and calling him names that he despised. Azula crouched low and looked at Katara with a chilling smile. Both siblings flinched. "You're right, it's not in fire-nation to be kind people. We're too smart, too calculating to let meaningless emotions effect our minds. Unfortunately though, that didn't register for my brother here. He was dropped a couple times as a child you see-"
"Hey!" Zuko growled, clearly offended. Katara shot another smirk his way and Sokka chuckled.
"-and well," Azula rolled her eyes, not sparing her brother a look. "it seems that he took after mother. He's kind." Azula spat that like it was a bad taste in her mouth. That did not sit well with Zuko. He grabbed her by the collar and lifted her to her feet. Everyone gasped, even Katara.
"You can make fun of me all you want Azula. But don't bring mother into this." he snarled, releasing her and looking away.
"Aww Zuzu, would you really hurt your baby sister?" Azula purred her eyes sparkling mischievously.
"Hmph, we both know you'd win in a fight with me." Zuko scowled as Azula smirked. Everyone else was just stunned. They didn't know that.
"Hmm, true." She then turned back to Katara. "Listen bitch." Katara and the others gaped. "Don't take my brother's kindness and repay it with trash. He is fire-nation royalty and you will show him respect." Well that was a complete 180. "Plus he's still my brother and I...care for him." she sounded perplexed by the word. "So accept it before I blast you over board!" She snapped. Everyone was silent... that was...bipolar.
"So I'm thinking I'ma go with psycho or crazy-bitch for you..." Toph said, breaking the silence.
"Don't call her that!" Zuko barked. Toph jumped at the force in his voice. The flames lit around the metal boat flared and everyone jerked away from them.
'Okay, rule number one, don't trash talk Zuko's family.' She thought, feeling a hint of fear for the man crawl up her spine... she wasn't used to that. Must be the unsteady ground.
"Aww, Zuzu are you protecting me?" Azula cooed.
"Shut up." he growled before turning back to the little earth-bender. "Got it!?" he snapped.
'Rule number two. Don't mess with the fire-siblings, they are bat shit crazy.'
"Fine fine, I'll just call her 'the one who shall not be named'." Toph rolled her eyes. "Jokes, I'm still going with crazy-bitch." both siblings glared at the smiling girl... who couldn't see it... hey, she was still Toph.
Zuko turned back to Katara. "Look, you're wearing our 'cloths' right now so you might as well deal with it... or can I have my cape back?" Zuko looked pointedly at Katara who tightened her hold on the material as Zuko out-stretched his hand. "Thought so." He then crossed his arms and raised a brow at Sokka; who just blushed a little and crossed his arms as well. "Good. Ty Lee, bring her a change of cloths... an appropriate one." he sighed, pinching his brows a little. "I'll go get you one of my changes." The prince disappeared.
"Um... I exist too humans." A voice called from the sea.
"I'll go get one of mine." Haru said with a sigh. When those three left, silence once again reigned.
"Hey, twinkle-toes, you can close your mouth now." It seems than Aang was frozen. After he found out Zuko had seen Katara, the girl he liked, naked, he went into a state of complete shock.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, twinkle toes has left the building." She rolled her eyes.
So, as you may have picked up on, I don't plan on calling these 'chapters'. No, instead I will have a witty sentence at the start of each chappie, giving you some info on how it's going to play out. Tell me what you think hmm? And yeah look, I know the romance is slow but trust me, between them things are bound to get real steamy real soon, am i right? Sorry, lame pun I know -.-; ANYWAY. Yeah, it'll take time but I will throw in a few kinky dreams and imagination gone wild snippits until, and perhaps after, their first time xD So look forward~!